Improvement in corpse-coolers



A. KINNAIRD. Corpse-Coolers.

.Patente d June 18, 1878).

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N. PETERS, PHOTO-LIT HOGRAPNER. WASHNGTONA u G,

" QFFI'QEL- ALEXANDER 'KiNnAiiiDQOFEAIJTIMGR MARYLAND I IMPROVEMENT n coRPsE-co'oLE s.

' y "s aiiafionlaaa atter Izettcrs Patent Nb. 205,102, (immune is, rare; application filed I February 5,1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER KINNAIRD, of the city of Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Gaskets; and 1 hereby declare the same to be fully, clearly, and exactly described as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents myimproved ice-casket in plan view. Fig. 2 isavertical longitudinal sectional view, the lid being removed; and Fig. 3, a vertical cross-sectional view of the same.

This invention relates to that class of devices in use for maintaining corpses during the interval elapsing between death and burial at a sufficiently low temperature to prevent decay; and it consists in an apparatus adapted to subserve that end possessing points of novelty not necessary here to enumerate, as they are hereinafter made the subjects of claims based upon the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a double case of the form shown, having a suitable non-conducting medium, a, preferably ground cork, between its walls, and lined on the interior with sheet metal. At one end of the case, toward which there is a slight fall, a drip-tube, E, is fitted.

At either side the walls of the case A are provided at intervals with aseries of steps,

upon which the bars b for sustaining the me tallic coffin B rest. A small shelf, 0, whose function will be presently referred to, runs along the sides and ends of the case just above the bars 12.

A pair of swiveling metallic rings or holders, ff, are attached to the under side of the case, and the bars F are thrust through them when it is desired to carry the device from place to place. The holders f effectually prevent the bars F from sliding toward the ends of the .case when the same is being carried up or down stairs, while still admitting of a swiveling motion of the bars to suit the step of the persons carrying the case. The latter is mounted upon casters 9 g, obviating the necessity for lifting it bodily when it is desired to move the casket from one part of a room to another.

The case or coffin B, within which the body is placed, is simply a metallic box of the shape construction is to obviate the possibility of the entrance of moisture, condensed on the surface of the ice-boxes, into the coffin.

Suitable covers, flanged as shown, serve to close the tops of the ice-boxes.

The lid D consists of a double thickness of glass let into a suitable molding, between which and the top of the case A a packing, d, of rubber is placed, forming, when the lid is screwed down, an air-tight joint.

A layer of cloth, E, is preferably laid upon the bottom, preventing injury to the metallic lining of the case, and serving as an additional barrier to change of temperature.

In using the device, it is first filled with pieces of ice to the level of the bars 11, upon which the coffin B is placed. The corpse being placed therein, the compartments 0 G are completely filled with ice, and, the covers 0 a being laid in place, the lid D is finally screwed on.

The water from the melting ice escapes at the pipe E, which is made to dip below the level of water in a suitable pan, or is furnished with a goose-neck, in order to provide a waterseal to prevent ingress of warm air. Any moisture condensing upon the surfaces of the ice-boxes or walls of the case runs down into the shelves 0" b, which deliver it at the drip end of the case, so that the ice is kept asdry as possible. In order to still further guard against the possible condensation of moisture upon the face of the corpse, I make use of a device for drying the air, which is admitted to the interior of the case. This device consists of a small box, 2', containing particles of calcium chloride orsimilarabsorbent of moisture, which is fitted, by means of a suitable pipe, into a hole in the head end of the case.

, A circulation of air is,..of course, set, up by the cooling of the air within the case, and acurrent is induced through the box 43 and outat the pipe E. The air originally within the case is thus quickly replaced by air whichhas been completely-dried by passing through the box 6, when, in order to prevent a further circulation which would tend to melt the ice, the

box i is removed and a cork inserted in the hole at the head of the case.

Having thus described my inveution,--what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In an ice-casket, and in combination with its coffin, a series of sectional ice-chambers having. Wedges for Separating. them from. the

coflin, whereby. the entrance of moisture into the latter is prevented, as described.

2. An ice-casket having its walls and coffin provided with ledges for conducting condensed moisture to the drip end of the device, substantially as described.

3. In combination with an ice-casket, one

or more swiveling, holders, f, adapted to receive the carrying-bars, substantially as de- --scribed.

ALEXANDER: N A

Witnesses:

R. D. WILLIAMS, DAVID G. WEEMS. 

